# Your files and data

Know what travels with a project and how to back up source, history, and app data.

Your manuscript is a folder of ordinary source files. You can open those files with another editor, back them up, or take them out of Oleafly.

## Project files

Library projects normally live under `~/.oleafly/projects/`. A project can contain a LaTeX, Typst, or Markdown main document, a bibliography, figures, and research material.

`project.json` records the project's identity and settings, including its main document and engine. A `.git` directory holds Git history when initialized. The `.oleafly/build/` directory contains generated build output and can be recreated by compiling.

## Data stored outside the project

App preferences, encrypted provider credentials, chat and usage records, downloaded tools, and saved checkpoints belong to local app storage. Copying a manuscript folder does not copy all of that app data.

[Linked folders](/docs/linked-folders/) remain in their original locations. A source archive does not include their contents merely because you linked them.

## Back up your work

| What you want to keep | How to keep it |
| --- | --- |
| Manuscript source and project assets | Copy the project folder or export a source ZIP |
| Git commits | Back up the repository or push to your configured remote |
| Saved checkpoints | Export an encrypted history archive from Versioning |
| App preferences and local records | Include the Oleafly data directory in your normal computer backup |
| Linked data and references | Back up their original folders |

A source ZIP excludes build caches and Git. Use [GitHub sync](/docs/github-sync/) for a remote repository and [checkpoint archives](/docs/checkpoints/) for checkpoint history.

## Move to another computer

Install Oleafly and copy or clone the manuscript project. Reconnect linked folders and model providers on that machine. The project carries its compiler choice and metadata; additional tools or packages may need installation.

## Network access

Writing and local proofing happen on your machine. Hosted AI receives the context supplied to the selected provider. Citation search, GitHub sync, downloads, and update checks contact their respective services. Opening Settings → Help & About fetches two public numbers: the project's GitHub star count and how many members are online in the Discord community. The requests carry no account, project, or usage information, and offline mode skips the Discord one. Tectonic supports cached LaTeX compilation through its offline mode.

[Read the product principles →](/docs/philosophy/)